How to plan an Italy family holiday

Italy is a wonderful choice for a family holiday thanks to the wealth of child-friendly attractions and events, as well as cultural gems that adults will enjoy too. However, with so much choice you may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to visit and what to see. That's why we recommend multi-centre family holidays to Italy, which allow you to visit more than one destination on a single trip.

Italy has an excellent public transport system, with high-speed trains connecting many of the big cities, which means that you can easily travel between cities with your family. But how do you begin to plan a special family holiday to Italy with so much choice and options before you? If you're struggling with your holiday plans, here are our top tips.

Set a Budget

This is the first thing we recommend thinking about when planning any holiday. Set yourself a realistic budget, keeping in mind that you will need extra "spending money" for while you're away. If you have quite a tight budget, you can still enjoy Italy for your family holiday - read our recent blog on Ways to Save Money on a Family Holiday by clicking here.

Travel Agent or DIY?

Once you have a budget in mind, we recommend thinking about whether you would prefer the security of booking through a travel agent or tour operator, or whether you're happy to book everything yourself. There are many benefits to booking through a specialist travel agent, such as:

• Financial protection, provided the company holds an ATOL licence
• One-stop shop for all your travel needs, taking the stress out of your travel plans
• Local knowledge and tips for your holiday
• Support while you are away in case something goes wrong

However, you may find that a travel agent is a little more expensive than if you choose to book everything yourself. But, in our opinion, the added benefits of financial security and support while you are away make the extra cost well worth it. Plus, if you choose us for your Italy family holiday, we always make sure that we come in on budget and there are no hidden costs in our packages - we include return flights (including taxes and baggage), airport transfers, accommodation and inter-city train transfers as standard in our multi-centre trips to Italy. Plus, if we feel that we don't have a holiday that fits your budget then we will be honest with you, and recommend changes to allow you to enjoy a holiday to Italy at a price that fits you. To find out more about our Italy family holidays, please call an expert member of our team on 01223 637331 or click here to send an online enquiry.

Where to Go?

With so much to see and do in Italy, this can be the most difficult aspect of your holiday to agree on! If you have not been to Italy before, then we recommend a combination of Rome, Florence and Venice; or if you would prefer an eclectic mix of city life and coastal tranquillity, we think a twin-centre holiday to Rome and Sorrento will fit you perfectly.

If you have thrill-seeking teenagers in your family then consider the combination of Venice and Lake Garda as there is a large theme park near Lake Garda called Gardaland, which is home to adrenaline-fuelled rollercoasters, themed rides and fun games. There is also a Sealife Center and there are plenty of activities around the lake to enjoy, such as boat tours and cycling routes. For more inspiration, please click here to browse our recommended Italy family holidays.

Plan Activities

The last words any parent wants to hear on a family holiday is the dreaded "I'm bored"! To keep boredom at bay, we recommend pre-arranging activities to enjoy on your Italy family holiday. By pre-booking tours and activities, you can save money as touts that sell tours locally in Italy often overcharge unprepared tourists, especially around the Colosseum in Rome. Here are some of our favourite tours in the popular cities that you might like to consider pre-arranging for your Italy family holiday:

Rome

• Guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
• Special access tour of Vatican City, featuring St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
• Ghost tour of Rome, taking you to the haunted underground city

Florence

• Guided tour of the Uffizi Art Gallery (this is a great choice if you have an artist in the family)
• Skip-the-line entry to the Accademia to see Michelangelo's famous statue of The David
• Day trip to Pisa to visit inside the Leaning Tower (note that children must be at least eight to go inside)

Venice

• Private gondola ride (although shared options are available, we recommend a private tour for families of six or less as it is a more special experience)
• Guided tour of the St Mark's area - try to see Doge's Palace and the Golden Basilica as a part of your tour for the best experience
• Boat tour to Murano, Burano and Torcello - the three main islands in the Venetian Lagoon, where your family can learn about Venetian crafts, such as glass-blowing

We offer a complete family holiday planning service, which means that we can arrange added extras, such as tours, as a part of your package. To find out more, please contact us.

Arrange Travel Insurance

We recommend that all customers arrange travel insurance to cover unexpected events, such as needing to cancel your trip for medical reasons or covering any accidents while you are away. There is lots of competition so you can find travel insurance from as little as a few pounds per day - check out comparison websites for the best deal.

If you would like to visit Italy for your next family holiday and would like to find out more about our customised family holidays to Italy, please contact a friendly member of our team on 01223 637331 or click here to send an online enquiry. You can also click here to see some of our most popular holiday offers.